Key points
- A Cornell study reveals climate change, not overgrazing, is the primary driver of rangeland degradation in Mongolia.
- Forty-one years of data show that climate has a significantly greater impact on rangeland productivity than herd size.
- The study urges policymakers to focus on global climate mitigation and compensation for climate damages.
- Current herd-size restrictions and livestock taxes disproportionately harm Mongolian herders.
A groundbreaking study from Cornell University challenges the long-held assumption that overgrazing is the primary cause of rangeland degradation. Using four decades of comprehensive data from Mongolia, researchers found that climate change has a significantly greater impact on rangeland productivity than herd size. This research, published in Science, highlights the need for a shift in policy focus from local herding practices to global climate mitigation efforts.
The study, led by Professor Chris Barrett of Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business, analyzed data from Mongolia, where rangelands constitute 70% of the land area. The researchers utilized annual livestock censuses and vegetation surveys conducted by the Mongolian government, coupled with sophisticated statistical analysis, to assess the impact of herd size and climate on rangeland health.
Their findings revealed a stark contrast: while larger herds had a small, short-term negative effect on productivity, the influence of climate change, both long-term and year-to-year variations in weather, was drastically greater. In fact, year-to-year weather changes alone exhibited twenty times the impact of herd size.
This discovery directly challenges current policies in Mongolia, which include a nationwide livestock head tax aimed at reducing herd sizes. The study’s authors argue that these policies unjustly burden Mongolian herders, who contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Instead, they advocate for a greater focus on international cooperation to mitigate climate change and provide compensation for resulting damages to rangelands. This approach acknowledges the disproportionate impact of global climate change on vulnerable communities reliant on rangelands for their livelihoods.
The researchers emphasize the importance of considering the historical and cultural context of rangeland management, suggesting that pastoralists possess significant knowledge and experience that should be incorporated into policy decisions. This collaborative approach would be more effective in achieving sustainable rangeland management and supporting the livelihoods of the communities that depend on them.
The study’s findings underscore the need for a paradigm shift in addressing rangeland degradation, prioritizing global climate action over local regulations that disproportionately affect pastoral communities.
